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MDF vs. ASTM A372 Grade H Steel

MDF and ASTM A372 grade H steel belong to fundamentally different material chemistries. MDF is a polymeric material, while ASTM A372 grade H steel is a metal. Therefore, their performance will be even more dissimilar than would be suggested by the difference in properties. There are 15 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (18, in this case) are not shown. Please note that the two materials have significantly dissimilar densities. This means that additional care is required when interpreting the data, because some material properties are based on units of mass, while others are based on units of area or volume.

For each property being compared, the top bar is MDF and the bottom bar is ASTM A372 grade H steel.

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa 4.0
190
Elongation at Break, % 0.5
20 to 22
Poisson's Ratio 0.25
0.29
Shear Modulus, GPa 2.5
73
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa 18
650 to 910

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K 1700
470
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K 0.3
45
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K 12
13

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm3 0.75
7.8

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points 3.0
13
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points 71
24
Strength to Weight: Axial, points 6.7
23 to 32
Strength to Weight: Bending, points 20
21 to 27
Thermal Diffusivity, mm2/s 0.24
12
Thermal Shock Resistance, points 27
19 to 27